Wall structure



June 23, 1953 v. H. HAssELQulsT 2,642,883

' WALL sTRuc'wRE Filed Feb. 1, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l V 7 II- '7 T/.c'aaH- ssquis June 23, 1953 v. H. HASSELQUIST 2,642,883

WALL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 1, 1949 2 sheets-sheet 2 mimi Patented June23, 1953V WALL STRUCTURE Victor H. Hasselquist, Akron, Ohio, assignor toThe B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., v a corporation of NewYorkv Application February 1, 1949, Serial N o. 74,033

12 Claims. (Cl. 13551) This invention relates to `walled structures oflimp pliable material and is especially useful in the construction oftents and other enclosures although features of the invention are alsouseful in other walled structures.

. Limp, pliable sheet material such as polymerized vinyl chloridecompositions is resistant to the eifects of sunlight and beingwaterproof has been found desirable for use in the construction of tentsand other walled structures exposed to the weather. required supportingframesv of stiff material ture of limp pliable sheet material arrangedto provide a shelter or. tent of conical form, the wall of whichcomprises a series of -connected inflatable elongate pockets I ofconical' shape having their larger endsat the base of the tent and theirsmall ends at its peak. The pockets I0 are united to each other alongline I2 attheir Such structures have usually which have added'considerable Weight and bulk to the structure and have involveddifficulties in transportation of the structure.

It is an object of the present invention to pro'- vide a self-supportingwall structure, eliminating supporting frames. I

Othervobjects are to provide afwall structure capable ofbeing stiienedby ination, to provide 'f cooperation of stiffening in differentportions of the walls, to provide `a strong self-supporting structure,to provide for simultaneous inflation of all parts of the structure, toprovide for sealing the inflation medium from portion to portion, and toprovide bracing of one'portionfrom another.

These and other objects will appear from the following description andthe accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings, l

Fig. l is a perspective view of a tent structure corresponding to andembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view to a larger scale showaway and portions shownin section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tent in uniniiated condition.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the clamping or sealing rings.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified for-m of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of the uninilated tent.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view thereof vtaken on line IU-IU of Fig. 8.

. Fig. 11 is a sectional view thereof, taken on line II-II of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, and flrst to Figs. 1 to 7 thereof, theseillustrate a walled-strucing the top of the tent, portions being brokenune 4 4 of opposite margins throughout their lengths except that thepockets-are connected to each other near theirsmaller ends by a manifoldI3 and also at their small ends to a pocket I4 having va tubularextension I5 for simultaneous inflation of the pockets. Union of thesheet material between the manifold I3 and the pocket I4 prejventsdistortion of the peak unduly under inflation. yA plug I6 may beprovided for closing the tubular extension and prevent return oftheinflation medium.

The walls of the pockets are of flexible and pliable impervious sheetlmaterial lcapable of holding air under pressure and may be of softrubber or other rubber-like material. lPreferably the walls are ofplasticizedv polymerized vinyl chloride or other pliablel lm materialresistant to exposure to sunlight and oxidation.

In the manufacture of theV tent, two sheets 20, 2| of the pliableiilmimaterial are cut to the developed shape of the conical structure asshown in Fig. 5 and are superimposed and joined to each other abouttheirarcuatemargins v22 and radial margins 23-24 and also alongradial linesto provide seams I2. While suchseams maybe made by cementing, they arepreferably formed by heat seaming the lm material along the desiredlines by application of heat and pressure. The radial seams may beinterrupted in the region of the manifold I3. One of the sheets ofmaterial hasbeen perforated near the 4center of curvature and thetubular lextension secured thereto about the perforation before thesheets are seamed to each other to provide for inating rthe pockets.

To provide for closing off the pockets from each other after iniiationof the tent and thereby avoid collapse of the entire structure in caseof puncture of a pocket, a pair rof clampingv rings 30, 3| are provided,ring 30 is tapered on its outerv face and ring 3| is tapered on itsinner face'.

After inflation of the walls of thetent, ring 30 maybe placed within thetent near its peak at a position opposite the manifold I3 and ring 3| lmay be forced over the tent, the opposed tapered walls of the ringsclamping the sheets 20, 2| A against each other entirely about theringsover cal shape and is completely closed except for anY inflationaperture 4| so that each pocket is sealed continuously againstcommunication with the others. An inflation tube 42 is provided-at eachaperture and has a removable stopper 43 permitting individual inflationof the pockets. The walls of the tent are constructed of two sheets ofims pervious pliable material of the shape of the de- 'veloped cone andare seamed to each other about their arcuate margins 44 and also alongradiating lines 45 as with the structure io Fig. l.

With either of the disclosed embodiments, in-

ation of the pockets stiffens the wall to such an extent as to preventcollapse of the wall and ob- 'viate the necessity of a supportingframework.

` While the illustrated embodiments are tents of conical shape, it is tobe -understood that other types of enclosures having wall structures maybe constructed in similar manner by seaming sheets of similar materialto each other to provide elongate inilatable pockets to stiften thestructure.

Variations may be made without departing Vfrom the scope of theinvention as it is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A walled structure comprising a .wall having a pair of pliablesheets, each sheet having the shape of a developed conical surface, saidsheets being secured to each other along lines corresponding to straightelements of the cone and dening elongate pockets therebetween, means for-inflating said pockets to stillen said wall, and means for sealing saidpockets when said wall is arranged in the shape of a conical enclosure,said means comprising a ring insertable within the conical enclosurenear its apex, and clamplng means adapted to clamp said wall to saidring. 2. A substantially conical walled structure having a base and anapex and comprising a plurality of limp pliable impervious sector-shapedsheets of material in superimposed relation, said superimposed sheetshaving an arcuate margin providing the base of said walledstructure,rsaid sheets being secured to each other about their marginsand along spaced lines within their margins, said lines extending fromthe apex of the structure divergently toward its base and defininginilatable elongate pockets between the sheets, each pocket wheninflated being thicker adjacent the base of the structure than towardthe apex from one side of the wall structure to the opposite side, andmeans for inflating said pockets to stiffen the structure.

. V3. A substantially conical walled structure having a base and an apexand comprising a'plurality of limp pliable impervious substantiallysemi-circular sheets of material in superimposed relation, saidsuperimposed sheets having an arcuate margin providing the base of saidwalled structure, said sheets being secured to each other about their.margins and along spaced lines within their margins, said linesextending from the apex of the structure divergently toward its base anddefining inflatable elongate pockets between the sheets, each pocketwhen inflated being thicker adjacent the base of the structure thantoward the apex from one side of the wall structure to the oppositeside, said pockets communicating with each other adjacent the apex ofthe structure, and means at the apex of the structure for inflating thepockets.

4. A substantially conical walled structure having a base and an apexand comprising a wall having a plurality of limp pliable impervioussheets of material in superimposed relation, said sheets being securedto each other about their margins and along spaced lines within theirmargins, said lines extending from the apex of the structure toward itsbase and deiining inilatable elongate pockets between the sheets, saidpockets communicating with each other adjacent the apex of thestructure. means at the apex of the structure for inflating the pockets,and means for sealing all of said pockets at a position near the apex ofthe structure, said sealing means comprising a pair of concentricnesting rings adapted to engage therebetween the material deilning saidpockets in clamping relation thereto.

5. A substantially conical walled structure having a base and an apexand comprising a plurality of limp pliable impervious substantiallysemi-circular sheets of plastic material in superimposed relation, saidsuperimposed sheets having an arcuate margin providing the base of saidwalled structure, said sheets being adhered to each other about theirmargins and along diverging spaced lines within their margins, saidlines extending from positions near the apex of the structure to itsbase and dening therebetween inatable conical pockets connected to eachother near theapex of the structure, the pocket when inflated beingthicker adjacent the base than toward the apex from one side of the wallstructure to the opposite side, and'means for inflating said pockets tostiilen the structure for self-support.

6. A substantially conical walled ystructure having a base and an apexand comprising a plurality of limp pliable impervious substantiallysemi-circular sheets of plastic material in superimposed relation, saidsuperimposed sheets having an arcuate margin providing the base of saidWalled structure, said sheets being adhered to each other about theirmargins and along diverging spaced lines within their margins, saidlines extending from positions near the apex of the structure to itsbase and defining therebetween inatable conical pockets connected toeach other near the apex of the structure, the pocket when inflatedbeing thicker adjacent the base from one side of the wall structure tothe opposite side than toward the apex, one of said sheets having aninflation tube atsaid apex for inating said pockets to stiften thestructure for self support.

7. A substantially conical walled structure comprising a plurality oflimp pliable impervious sheets of plastic material in superimposedrelation, said sheets being adhered to each other about their marginsand along diverging spaced lines within their margins, said linesextending from positions near the apex of 'the structure to its base anddefining therebetween inilatable conical pockets connected to each othernear the apex of the structure, one' of said'sheets having an inflationtube at said apex for inflating said pockets to-stiifen the structurefor self support. and means for sealing said pockets from each other,said sealing means comprising a pair of K concentric nested ringsadapted to engage opposite surfaces of the wall near the apex of thestructure in clamping relation thereto.

8. A walled structure comprising a plurality of tubular passagesdisposed side by side, the walls of which passages are of pliable sheetmaterial'united along lines which extend convergently relative to eachother between the passages toward a common position on the structure,manifold means at said position for inilating said passages together,and means at said position for closing said passages againstcommunication one with another.

9. A walled structure comprising a plurality of tubular passagesdisposed side by side, the walls of which passages are of pliable sheetmaterial united along lines which extend convergently relative to eachother between the passages toward a common position on the structure, amanifolding passage extending transversely of said structure at saidposition of convergence, and means for closing said tubular passagesagainst communication one with another.

10. A walled structure comprising a plurality of elongated inflatabletubular pockets formed of flexible sheet material, each pocket having alarge end and a relatively smaller end and when inflated being wideradjacent said large end than at said smaller end, the several pocketsbeing connected together side to side with all of the large ends of saidpockets defining one margin of the walled structure and all of thesmaller ends of the pockets directed toward another margin of the walledstructure, and means for iniiating the pockets.

11. A walled structure comprising a pair of superimposed sheets each theshape of a circular sector, the sheets being united together aroundtheir peripheral 'margins and also by a plurality of seams of equalwidth which extend radially of the sector-shaped sheets, eachrai'lial'sea-m extending from the arcuate margin of the sheets to aportion adjacent the radial center of said arcuate margin of the sheetsto define a plurality of inflatable pockets between the sheets, thestructure being adapted to form a conical enclosure having said portionas the apex of the enclosure by flexing along said radial seams when thepockets are inflated. y

12. A'Walled structure comprising a wall havving a. pair of superimposedpliable sheets each having a curved margin and a rectilinear marginchordwise thereof, said sheets being united to each other along theircurved and rectilinear margins and along spaced-apart lines extendingfrom their curved margin toward one position on the rectilinear marginthereof to define a series of inflatable pockets between said sheets,

reach pocket being large adjacent said curved margin and beingprogressively smaller along the y length of said pocket to said positionon the rectilinear margin, and means at said position connecting saidpockets to one another for simultaneous inilation of said pockets.

VICTOR H. HAssitLQUIs'r.v

kReferences Cited in they le 0f this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS Date

